MILLIKEN.--Julia, my dearest--dear--noble--dar--the devil! here's old
Kicklebury.

Enter Lady K., Children, and CLARENCE.

LADY K.--So, Miss Prior! this is what I hear, is it? A dancer in my
house! a serpent in my bosom--poisoning--yes, poisoning those blessed
children! occasioning quarrels between my own son and my dearest
son-in-law; flirting with the footman! When do you intend to leave,
madam, the house which you have po--poll--luted?

MISS P.--I need no hard language, Lady Kicklebury: and I will reply to
none. I have signified to Mr. Milliken my wish to leave his house.

MILLIKEN.--Not, not, if you will stay. [To Miss P.]

LADY K.--Stay, Horace! she shall NEVER stay as governess in this house!

MILLIKEN.--Julia! will you stay as mistress? You have known me for a
year alone--before, not so well--when the house had a mistress that is
gone. You know what my temper is, and that my tastes are simple, and
my heart not unkind. I have watched you, and have never seen you out
of temper, though you have been tried. I have long thought you good and
beautiful, but I never thought to ask the question which I put to you
now:--come in, sir! [to CLARENCE at door]:--now that you have been
persecuted by those who ought to have upheld you, and insulted by those
who owed you gratitude and respect. I am tired of their domination, and
as weary of a man's cowardly impertinence [to CLARENCE] as of a woman's
jealous tyranny. They have made what was my Arabella's home miserable
by their oppression and their quarrels. Julia! my wife's friend, my